Albania

On November 28, 1912, Albania declared its independence from the Ottoman Empire. This marked the beginning of Albanian statehood and sovereignty, freeing the Albanian territories from Ottoman rule, which had lasted for several centuries. The declaration was made in Vlorë, and Ismail Qemali was one of the main leaders of the independence movement. The new government faced many challenges including territorial disputes and recognition from European powers, as the Balkan Wars were ongoing and Albania's borders were not firmly established.

The Congress of Lushnjë was held from January 21 to January 31, 1920, gathering Albanian leaders to address the political divisions that threatened the nation's sovereignty. It was crucial in preventing the disintegration of Albania after World War I when the country's independence was under threat due to the Vittorio Orlando geopolitical decisions and the partition plans. The congress declared Tirana as the new capital of Albania, replacing Vlorë, and reorganized the government, helping to solidify the national unity and preserve Albania's territorial integrity.

On July 7, 1978, Albania announced that it was breaking off diplomatic relations with the People's Republic of China, its last political and economic ally. This decision marked the end of Albania's reliance on communist alliances, having been isolated from both the Soviet Union and China. The break was due to ideological differences and China's approach to foreign policy. This left Albania in a state of intense isolation, often termed as "self-reliance," significantly impacting its economy and further alienating it from international politics until the fall of communism.

On December 11, 1990, the People's Assembly of Albania amended the constitution, allowing political pluralism, marking the end of nearly half a century of communist rule under the Party of Labour of Albania. This change was part of a wave of transformations sweeping Eastern Europe, and led to the establishment of a democratic political system in the country. The transition was tumultuous, involving economic hardship, political upheaval, and social changes as the country slowly opened to the rest of Europe and the world.

On March 31, 1991, Albania held its first multi-party elections since World War II, marking the end of the one-party system controlled by the Albanian Party of Labour. This transition was part of the broader democratic movements in Eastern Europe following the end of communist regimes across the region. Although the Party of Labour won the elections, it was a symbol of political change, leading to further democratic reforms and the eventual transformation of the political landscape in Albania.

In early 1997, Albania fell into chaos as fraudulent pyramid schemes collapsed, leading to widespread civil unrest and economic collapse. Many Albanians lost their life savings in these schemes, accounting for a significant portion of the GDP. The government lost control as protests and riots spread, necessitating international intervention to stabilize the country. Operation Alba was launched, a multinational protection force to establish order and deliver humanitarian aid. This period marked a major crisis in post-communist Albania.

During the Kosovo War in 1999, Albania became a refuge for hundreds of thousands of ethnic Albanian Kosovars fleeing Serbian forces. NATO's intervention in the conflict and the bombing of Yugoslavia began in March 1999, and Albania played a critical role in providing humanitarian aid and shelter to refugees. The influx overwhelmed Albania's capacity, but international aid helped manage the crisis. The war ended with the withdrawal of Yugoslav troops from Kosovo. The refugee crisis tested Albania's ability to handle large-scale humanitarian emergencies.

On April 1, 2009, Albania officially joined the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) along with Croatia. This membership represented a significant step forward in Albania's integration into Euro-Atlantic structures and its commitment to international peace and security. Joining NATO provided Albania with a security framework and political stability, encouraging further political and economic reforms. It also symbolized Albania's departure from its isolated past and its commitment to democratic values and cooperative international relations.

On June 23, 2013, Albania held parliamentary elections that resulted in a peaceful transfer of power from the ruling Democratic Party to the opposition Socialist Party, led by Edi Rama. This marked an important milestone in Albania's democratic development, demonstrating political maturity and the establishment of a stable democratic process. The elections were closely monitored by international observers to ensure fairness and transparency, further solidifying Albania's position on its path towards integration with the European Union and global democratic norms.

On November 26, 2019, Albania was struck by a 6.4 magnitude earthquake, one of the strongest to hit the country in decades. It caused widespread destruction, particularly in the cities of Durrës and Thumanë, resulting in dozens of deaths and thousands of injuries. The earthquake also left many residents homeless and caused significant damage to infrastructure. The Albanian government declared a state of emergency and received international humanitarian aid to assist with the recovery and rebuilding efforts. The earthquake highlighted the vulnerabilities in Albania's construction standards and emergency preparedness.

On March 9, 2020, Albania declared a state of emergency in response to the COVID-19 pandemic after recording its first cases of the virus. The government implemented a nationwide lockdown, closing schools, businesses, and imposing travel restrictions to curb the spread of the virus. This was part of the global effort to manage the pandemic, which posed significant challenges to Albania's healthcare system and economy. The country's response included mass testing, contact tracing, and international cooperation to secure vaccines and medical supplies.